Critical Analysis and Evaluation of Strategies Adopted by Multinational Corporations

Your task is to carry out a critical analysis and evaluation of the strategies adopted by Multinational Corporations (MNCs) operating in an industry and country of your choice, using information available to the public e.g. company annual reports in pdf and other materials researched. You will be expected to select and apply appropriate theories, techniques and models studied during the module whilst having regard to the practical aspects of strategy development.

Your assignment should be presented in a business report format and should be 3,000 words maximum (excluding executive summary/abstract, references and relevant appendices). The report should include a title page and abstract and be fully and consistently referenced, using Harvard Referencing style. You must submit an electronic version of the report Online via the University’s Assignment Space - this should be clearly labelled with your name, your course and the name of the case study.

It is recommended that you research information to support your arguments. This may be obtained from a diverse range of sources and you are encouraged to research the issues in whichever way you deem appropriate.

Questions

1.Briefly distinguish between ‘Business-level’ and ‘Corporate-level’ strategies. Using information from the most recent Annual Report of the MNC of your choice, critically evaluate the impacts of the ‘demands for business responsiveness and multi-business synergy’, and the ‘demands for localization and globalization’, on the MNC’s approach to sustaining international competitiveness. 

2.What is a disruptive technology? Critically assess the merits and demerits of a disruptive technology of your choice using appropriate examples from your chosen MNC. Discuss how the MNC can explore and exploit the disruptive technology to maximise its corporate profitability through low-cost leadership and/or product differentiation.

3.Using your understanding of ‘sustainable development’, and the paradox of ‘corporate profitability’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’, critically evaluate the ability of the CEO and Senior management team in your chosen MNC’s to simultaneously achieve corporate profitability and corporate social responsibility objectives crucial for the MNC’s survival and growth in an international context. 

4.In 250-300 words reflect on the impact of this assessment on your understanding of the Multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in the industry and country of your choice, highlighting the key benefits and limitations of business- and corporate-level strategies, impact of disruptive technologies on the role of Senior management and leadership, in creating a culture for sustainable development in an international context.